The Punjab-Haryana High Court has summoned the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab after initiating suo-motu proceedings regarding the death of a 19-year-old named Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur on February 23. Singh was in police custody connected to the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector Gurnam Singh and Home Guard Ashok Kumar. As per police accounts, while being transported to a police station, the vehicle overturned, providing Singh an opportunity to escape on a motorcycle, armed with a revolver. Although he was apprehended shortly afterward, he managed to flee again and was subsequently killed in a police encounter.

Victim’s Family Seeks Justice

The family of the deceased has lodged a petition with the High Court contesting the encounter, asserting Singh’s innocence and arguing that the police unlawfully killed him. The victim’s legal counsel emphasized the necessity for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the officers’ murder. They have demanded access to detailed call records of the involved officers, their GPS locations, and any available CCTV footage. They contend that both police and medical records are subject to state control, necessitating an independent investigation.

Calls for Specialized Investigation

Advocate Sonu Giri, representing the victim’s family, expressed dissatisfaction with the local police’s reluctance to share critical details with the family. “A 19-year-old boy was killed in a fake encounter. Despite the police’s ongoing investigation, the family has been left in the dark on many crucial aspects. This led to our petition at the High Court. We insist that a special team, like the CBI or NIA, handle this investigation separately from the local police,” he stated.

Concerns Raised Over National Security

Additionally, Advocate Ravi Joshi characterized the murder of the police personnel as a matter of national security, raising concerns about the integrity of state agencies that would be investigating their own officers. “Whenever there is a mention of the ISI, an independent agency like the NIA should take charge. This situation could compromise national security, as state authorities are unlikely to take action against their personnel,” he remarked. Joshi also highlighted issues regarding the control of the medical report by the state government and reiterated the need for an impartial investigation.

High Court’s Response to Requests

Meanwhile, Advocate Ravideep Badyal conveyed that although the court accepted some of the requests, including the preservation of call records and GPS data of the police involved, it declined the request for a post-mortem examination at PGI due to jurisdictional constraints. “The court has provided us some relief, acknowledging our requests. However, the request for a post-mortem at PGI was denied for jurisdictional issues. We remain committed to pushing for an independent investigation,” he stated.

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